Stiff framed mattress having sectional flexibility



July 22, 1969 M. N. JANAPOL 3,456,271

STIFF FRAMED MATTRESS HAVING SECTIONAL FLEXIBILITY.

Filed Aug. 28, 1967 FIG. 1.

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United States Patent 3,456,271 STIFF FRAMED MATTRESS HAVING SECTIONAL FLEXIBILITY Melvin N. Janapol, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Wortso Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Aug. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 663,723 Int. Cl. A47c 23/04 US. Cl. -351 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to bedding and to a mattress which is simliar to sectional articulated bedding but which retains the simplified and fundamental character of ordinary bedding with the added features of flexibility otherwise found only in said articulated bedding. Specifically, this mattress involves stiff and resiliently bendable frame members between which two or more sectional groups of coil springs operate, there being a void intermediate the sectional groups of springs whereat spring coils are omitted from the construction and are replaced by surface tension suspension members. characteristically, the said void is an intermediate separation substantially equal to the space normally occupied by a row of normal spring coils, and the suspension members are tension springs that span the void. However, the continuity of spring coils around the perimeter of the mattress remains uninterrupted.

An object of this invention is to provide a mattress of conventional outside configuration and with features comparable to features found in articulated mattresses and the like which are especially constructed to fold. However, the conventional feature of the mattress hereinafter disclosed is that it is stiff in the sense that it is not bendable to an extent that it can be said to fold; but yet it is fiexible to an extent that it can be said to be bendable, as a normal conventional mattress is bendable. Further, the active person supporting area of the mattress hereinafter disclosed is sectional and the sections are separated so as to operate independently to carry those portions of the persons body for which they are designed. Consequently, the body supporting areas of this mattress seek independent angular dispositions, being interconnected by surface tension suspension members.

It is another object of this invention to simulate the functional effect of articulated mattresses but Without resort to hinged relation between individual mattress sec tions. With the mattress hereinafter disclosed, the perimeter is a substantially stiff frame characterized by a continuity of adjacently related spring coils, while the several mattress sections are substantially separated for independency of operation and thereby gaining the functional effect of mattress sections that are hinged.

The various objects and features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the typical preferred form and application thereof, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mattress unit as it normally appears,

FIG. 2 is a general plan view of the mattress frame and spring unit, as it would appear with the padding and ticking removed therefrom.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary detailed views taken as indicated by lines 33 and 4-4 on FIG. 2.

The mattress herein disclosed is a self-contained unit of the inner-spring type and having the outward appearance of a normal and conventional mattress. That is, this mattress is of rectangular plan configuration and of nor- 'ice mal thickness or depth, and it has the usual rolled edges at the joinder between the top and bottom cover faces and the side faces thereof. Since the invention is primarily concerned with domestic bedding and the like, it is the standardized proportioned mattresses to which I will hereinafter describe my bedding as being applied. However, this invention is related to hospital bedding in a sense, in that it is the functional effect of articulated hospital bedding that is simulated by this mattress construction. By hospital bedding, I refer to beds which articulate, usually in three body supporting sections; the head section, the center and the foot section. Therefore, I will now describe the preferred form of my invention as it is applicable to conventional domestic bedding and with added features which lend to it the functions attributed to hospital bedding. Generally therefore, the preferred form of my invention involves a single frame A, a head section H, a center section C and a foot section F. In addition to said four general elements, there is like top and bottom padding P and over which there is ticking T. As clearly shown throughout the drawings, a characteristic feature of this mattress is that the frame A thereof maintains a general flatness and prevents undue bending along the said margins thereof.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the three sections H, C and F are conventionally placed and proportioned, and in the preferred form the sections H and F are like and/or identical sections in which case the mattress is not only reversible top to bottom but is also reversible end to end. Thus, the center section C is centered longitudinally to act between the head section H and foot section F, and the said head and foot sections are interchangeable with each other insofar as function is concerned, simply by reversing the mattress end for end.

In accordance with this invention the frame A is substantially stiff as such a frame is in a normal mattress. However, the sections H, C and F are separated so as to be independently operable for their respective body support functions. Accordingly, I provide surface tension suspension members S that joint the sections H and F to the section C, and in such a manner that the adjacent sections can move relative to each other, to bend as Well as to depress. By bending, I refer to the flexible hinge action which is afforded by the members S and which permits angular displacement; and by depressing, I refer to flexible coupling action which is afforded by the members S and which permits planar displacement.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 and to the frame A, said frame comprises upper and lower side rails 10 and 11 and upper and lower end rails 12 and 13. The rails are of substantial body such as stiff wire or rod adapted to function as semi-rigid elements giving permanency to the form of the mattress. That is, the mattress is established as a non-bendable mattress in the sense that it cannot be folded. Therefore, each upper and lower frame element is an integral rectangle that establishes the permanent length and Width of the mattress, the wire or rod thereof being resilient so as to always return to the straight configuration illustrated in the drawings.

In order for the mattress to perform its usual depressible support function, the spring frame A is cooperatively related to a multiplicity of transverse sets of coil springs 20, each spring of which is helically wound in the usual manner and of hour-glass configuration. In practice, for example, a bedding unit of the type under consideration will ordinarily involve twenty-one sets of coil springs 20, the ends of the springs being approximately four inches in diameter and arranged in tangential relation to each other. Further, each transverse set of coil springs 20 ordinarily involves eight such spring coils 20 (for constructing a single bed mattress), and a normal head and/or foot section involves 8 or 9 coils in longitudinal extent, while the normal center section involves 3 to coils in longitudinal extent. The foregoing is a typical specification for a single bed mattress having the head and foot and center sections hereinabove referred to.

The sets of spring coils used throughout the three mattres sections are alike and preferably identical, each including a series of adjacently related spring coils 20 of the above specified configuration. The said coils are of equal diameter and length, having the same mechanical characteristics, and they are held in speed adjacency by means of transversely extending top and bottom pigtails 21 and 22 that embrace the tangent points of longitudinally adjacent spring coils of the adjacent sets of springs respectively. The pig-tails are small diameter helical coils that extend continuously as circumstances require, in order to join adjacent springs and other elements such as the frame A. As shown, there are four transverse pig-tails associated with each set of spring coils, and adjacently related sets of spring coils have top and bottom pig-tails in common therebetween. In practice, the embraced engagement of the pig-tails with the springs and elements to be connected is accomplished by revolving said pig-tails whereby the screwing action thereof advances said pig-tails into the desired installed position.

As hereinabove stated, the head and foot sections H and F are preferably alike and in any case they can be considered essentially the same, comprising an equal number of transverse sets of spring coils 20. And, the center section C comprises, as shown, three sets of spring coils 20. In accordance with the invention the center section is supplemented by additional side coils 19, at each side of the mattress, at the head and at the foot section respectively. That is, there are coupling spring coils 19 at each side of the the section C, and adjacent the endmost coils 20 thereof, and these coils 19 extend between the head section H and foot section F, being coupled thereto and therebetween by means of the aforesaid pig-tails, as shown.

The spring coils 19 and 20 and pig-tails 21 and 22 which are arranged as above described and which establish the sections H, F and C are embraced within the confines of the two frame A elements, the frame rails 10, 11, 12 and 13 being adapted to the spring coils 19 and 20 as by means of pig-tails 23 and 24 that embraceably attach said frame members to said coils in the same manner as hereinabove described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the inclusion of the side coils 19 intermediate the sections H and C, and sections F and C creates voids between the sections that are equal in longitudinal span to the diameter of said side coils. Consequently, there can be complete freedom of movement between the longitudinally apposed spring coils of the adjuxtapositioned mattress sections. However, in accordance with the invention, longitudinal continuity of the mattress surface is re-established across said voids at both the top and bottom thereof by means of the surface tension suspension members S. As shown, there is a multiplicity of members S, each in the form of an extensible coil spring attached between the proximate portions of the longitudinally apposed springs coils that require connecting together. Consequently, each suspension member S pulls in line with longitudinally aligned rows of spring coils in the three mattress sections respectively, assuring continuity between the extreme ends of the mattress.

It will be seen that the mattress hereinabove described is a stiff framed mattress of conventional appearance wherein the center section is operable independently of the head and foot sections. Significantly, the said center section is movable from either of the head or foot sections in various modes. For example, one mode is for the center section to extend away from either of the other two apposed sections. Another mode is for the center section to be depressed and thereby swing hingedly downward from either of the other two apposed sections. And still another mode is for the center section to be depressed so as to be displaced bodily out of the plane of either of the two other sections. Consequently, it will be seen that the heavier midportions of a persons body can and will independently move, angularly relate and bodily depress the center section C of the mattress, while in the same manner the mattress sections H and F independently support and carry the respective head and torso and leg parts of the person.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, 1 do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An inner-spring mattress comprising a plurality of normally horizontal and independently depressible sections embraced within a single spring frame, the spring frame having continuous and spaced top and bottom side and end rails of stiff and resilient material interconnected in rectangular relation, each of said depressible sections including a multiplicity of sets of spring coils extending transversely between the side rails, there being a common padding overlying the said depressible sections and independently supported thereby, and the said adjacent depressible sections being juxtapositioned and spaced by means of at least one spring coil disposed therebetween at the opposite side rails, whereby the said depressible sections are independently movable relative to each other intermediate the said opposite side rails.

2. The inner-spring mattress as set forth in claim 1 wherein the multiplicity of sets of spring coils are joined together and to the frame as a unit by means of pig-tails in the form of helical springs revolved into embraced engagement with the spring coils and frame rails, joining them together.

3. The inner-spring mattress as set forth in claim 1 wherein there are top and bottom surface tension suspension members extending between apposedly spaced spring coils of the adjacently related depressible sections, thereby coupling the said depressible sections for said independent movement.

4. The inner-spring mattress as set forth in claim 1,

wherein there are top and bottom surface tension suspen- 51011 members extending between apposedly spaced spring coils of the adjacently related depressible sections and thereby coupling said sections for said independent movement, and wherein the multiplicity of sets of spring coils are joined together and to the frame as a unit by means of pig-tails in the form of helical springs revolved into embraced engagement with the spring coils and frame rails and joining them together. 5. An inner-spring mattress comprising horizontal and independently depressible head, foot and center sections embraced within a single spring frame, the spring frame having spaced top and bottom side and end rails in rectangular relation, each of said head, foot and center sectrons including a multiplicity of sets of spring coils extending transversely between the said rails, there being a common padding overlying the said head, foot and center sections and independently supported thereby, and the said adjacent depressible head, foot and center sections being uxtapositioned and spaced apart by means of and a distance substantially equal to at least one spring coil deposed therebetween at the opposite side rails, whereby the said depressible head, foot and center sections are independently movable relative to each other intermediate the said opposite side rails.

6. The inner-spring mattress as set forth in claim 5 wherein the multiplicity of sets of spring coils are joined together and to the frame as a unit by means of pig-tails lll the form of helical springs revolved into embraced engagement with the spring coils and frame rails, joining them together.

7. The inner-spring mattress as set forth in claim 5 wherein there are top and bottom surface tension suspension members extending between apposedly spaced spring coils of the adjacently related and depressible head, foot and center sections, thereby coupling the said depressible sections for said independent movement.

8. The inner-spring mattress as set forth in claim 5 wherein there are top and bottom surface tension suspension members extending between apposedly spaced spring coils of the adjacently related and depressible head, foot 10 and center sections and thereby coupling said sections for said independent movement, and wherein the multiplicity of sets of spring coils are joined together and to the frame as a unit by means of pig-tails in the form of helical springs revolved into embraced engagement with the spring coils and frame rails and joining them together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

